Tiki drinks, farewell drinks and cumbia beats

Let our Hit List guide your nighttime activities

I just got back from a lovely, Mai Tai-soaked vacation in Hawaii, and, man, is it hard to come back to the office. There are no hammocks at CityBeat headquarters, and as much as I like working in North Park, it’s not quite a tropical paradise boasting views of lush mountains and a turquoise ocean. We mainly enjoy a cityscape filled with cool graffiti art and pit bull-accompanied gutter punks asking for change.

The islands are still with me, however, so I might head over to the Bali Hai (2230 Shelter Island Drive in Shelter Island) for one of its famous Mai Tais. The bar’s happy hour goes from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Duck out of the office early and sip on a sugary glass of Hawaiian fadeerade starting at $5. The price goes up $1 each hour.

CityBeat art director Adam Vieyra isn’t known for his rad cover illustrations alone. Dude can pour a good drink, a skill he put to use as a parttime bartender at Bluefoot Bar and Lounge (3404 University Ave. in North Park). As he’s leaving us for a job at another newspaper, he’s also leaving the crew at the ’foot. Thursday, Aug. 8, is his last shift slanging drinks. Stop by and sing LeAnn Rimes’ “How Do I Live” to CityBeat’s former Prince Harry. We’ll miss you here, bud.

During my luxurious vacation, I got to check out a fun luau thrown at a small restaurant in Kauai. With a mouthful of macaroni salad and roasted pig, I watched Polynesian dancers put even the best twerker to shame with their skills. I might try out a Latin-infused version of their amazing traditional dance moves at Live Wire’s (2103 El Cajon Blvd. in North Park) Cumbia Night on Monday, Aug. 12. DJs Mr. Henshaw, Unite, El Hijo de la Diabla and V-Rock will lay out the maraca jams that get all the quinceañeras pumping. Swivel those hips while sipping on one of Live Wire’s notorious, heavy-pour cocktails.